Close your eyes and think of the last three Test matches that have had you utterly enthralled in the contest. The type of game that you find yourself making excuses to keep watching - staying up a little later than you should, getting a makeshift sandwich instead of taking your wife out to lunch, avoiding your after-work walk to grab the last hour of play. The kind of game you remember individual performances from vividly.

Mine were all over without a ball being bowled on the fifth day - the latest being Australia's win in Galle. This is not because I like my action hard and fast, but more purely I like my cricket being an even contest between bat and ball. None of my three picks, despite popular suggestion, were determined by the toss of the coin. The other two, England's recent win at Trent Bridge and Australia's win over Pakistan at the SCG in 2010 (match-fixing cloud aside) were both played in conditions that had the batsmen uncomfortably focused on survival, until they settled and able to dominate, if and when they did.

These matches offered Test cricket as it should be: a test of skill for all involved in the game, every ball, over the course of the game, providing a fair contest. Only those at the top of their game succeeded, needing every ounce of their power to do so. If you got runs, you certainly deserved them. And wickets weren't just a case of letting go of the ball; you had to be able to stand up the seam, swing it on cue, or as in Galle, give it a rip.

There is a sad assumption by administrators and curators around the world that Test wickets should heavily favour batsmen. Galle, the latest surface to come under scrutiny, turned prodigiously from day one and swung reverse if the quicks had the ability to do so. The sight of top-class batsman scrapping for every run made for compulsive viewing.

Was it dangerous? No. Did the pitch deteriorate so badly that the game was lop-sided? The fact the fourth innings was the second-largest of the game suggests otherwise. Were broadcasters unhappy with the game not going late into day five? More than likely. We didn't, after all, get to see the batsmen queue up for a subcontinental feast, and rely on a couple of declarations to set up the result. Compare it to the spectacle of the second Test, in Kandy, and the prosecution can rest its case.

Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the beauty of attrition in Test cricket more than most - I am after all a stodgy grafter with the bat - but if a wicket doesn't offer any assistance to the new ball upfront, it needs to be balanced by significant deterioration and turn as the game goes on. In an ideal world, you would wish for both.

While people point the finger at national boards for the prevalence of the "corporate Test match" - a term used to suggest flat wickets are produced to maximise revenue - they do so, in Australia at least, incorrectly. It is the states who employ the ground staff who produce the wickets, and also take the gate receipts - the only variable revenue not locked-in in advance. Cricket Australia doesn't even budget for the final's day play.

Does my spectator opinion differ from my opening-batsman alter ego? Not in the slightest. There is no better feeling than having an attack on their knees - powerless against you and the conditions - willing you to make a mistake. However, by far the best games of cricket I have played in have been those where 40 wickets have fallen and 280 is par for both sides in the first innings. It is exhilarating seeing the ball nip about or kick out of the rough. A slight feeling always exists, deep inside, that your average may take a battering, but that also means runs will be cherished, and that there is a challenge to be risen to every ball. It tends to bring the best out in you.

The much-awaited Argus Review touched on first-class wickets in Australia. It suggested pitches around the nation should offer a good balance between bat and ball, and that they should offer conditions similar to those found at Test level.

But can they be both? Every domestic player licks their lips at the prospect of once a year seeing the world's best having to deal with a green top at the Gabba, and yet for the last few years the Test strip has been more placid than your average Labrador. Interestingly the trend is nationwide. The average first-innings total in Tests played in Australia during the 2000s increased a whopping 60-odd runs compared to the previous decade.

Pitches that are bowler-friendly actually encourage the production of complete cricketers. They train batsmen to play the ball late and adjust to any movement that might exist, and encourage fast bowlers to bowl at full throttle with their wrist behind the ball

The Argus discussion echoed some unfavourable commentary surrounding several states producing "result wickets" in an attempt to make the Shield final. Ultimately, it was argued, this was to the detriment of Australian cricket: runs were too hard to come by and thus not allowing batsmen to practise their craft for the requisite hours, and bowlers were not being prepared for the rigours of Test cricket with easy hauls. There is, however, a contrary opinion: pitches that are bowler-friendly actually encourage the production of complete cricketers. They train batsmen to play the ball late and adjust to any movement that might exist, and encourage fast bowlers to bowl at full throttle with their wrist behind the ball, knowing the rewards could be there.

Last season's winners, the Tasmanian Tigers, for whom I play, demonstrate the point beautifully. The skills acquired from playing on a juicy Bellerive Oval - particularly by the bowlers, who saw the value of pitching the ball up and being relentless in their line - held them in great stead for the flatter offerings away from home, where they still managed to take 20 wickets every game. Mark Cosgrove was the competition's leading run-scorer, and several other batsmen scored heavily at home by relying on patience and decisive footwork. Strong game plans at any level.

There were a few instances when it was taken to the extreme, but in a summer that seemed one endless rain cloud, overhead conditions were perhaps the dominant factor on these occasions. The only valid concern was that spinners were not getting their say, particularly at their traditional playgrounds like the SCG.

Perhaps instead of last season being seen as an aberration, it should act as encouragement for administrators and curators to do the same in Test cricket and put eventful wickets backs on the Test agenda - and in doing so, hopefully making several of the Australian Test grounds the feared graveyards they once were for tourists.

In recent history, for an Australia team containing two of the greatest bowlers of all time, and three batsmen of similar stature, winning was simply a question of supplying a homogenous ground. It was almost like the wickets had to be flat for the visitors to avoid a complete thrashing - the Perth Tests of 1998 and 1999 are cases in point. Perhaps some spice in the wickets will be the edge the current team needs. There is no doubt the players would adapt to perform. Most importantly though, it is perhaps what the spectators and Test cricket, increasingly under fire, need too.

batters should be able to graft runs on minefields, bowlers should be able to bowl line, length & variety on feather beds

Number_5
on September 15, 2011, 23:10 GMT

Not a bad article from a New South Welshman. As a cricket tragic and Adelaidian i fear for the future of cricket around the globe due to flat pitches and the impact of T20 on the skills of the game. Now that the members of Adelaide oval have sold their soul and we are to have a "stadium" with a drop in pitch, we too will have lost the advantage of having a traditional Adelaide oval pitch that played true but also gave the bowler who was willing to bend his back some assistance. I truly hope the little master makes his 100th hundred on the last true adelaide oval wicket, what a fitting farewell it would be for him and the Adelaide oval we once knew. Thaks Ed great read.

Akhilesh_Shenoy
on September 15, 2011, 14:56 GMT

Awesome article !!!!!!!! Hats off to u Ed Cowan !!!!! :)
U hav realy hit the nail on the head...cricket will only & i repeat only prosper if its an equal game between bat & ball....& dis is nt just fr test cricket... i believe it shud b fr all forms of the game....only wen its a fair contest between batsmen & bowlers will a game of cricket attract fans & sponsors alike in adequate numbers....lets hope the cricket boards are listenin to dis n start preparin testing tracks in order to sustain the future of this wonderful game !!!! :)

trepuR
on September 15, 2011, 14:35 GMT

I agree with the chorus of people here that believe in interesting cricket. The game should be an even balance, there should be some tests which give a balance, some which favour the bowlers, and yes, some that favour the batsmen. If we were to see lots of shorter, higher wicket games, then we might start to hunger for more run, but test and first class cricket is lightyears away from that being a problem. Pitches need variety, some games where either bat or ball is allowed to dominate, and lots where an interesting, enthralling contest is provided. Well said Ed.

azzaman333
on September 15, 2011, 12:45 GMT

It's very refreshing to see a call by a current batsman for pitches that give better assistance to bowlers. Test cricket is riveting when they have to work for every run, and conversely very boring when they don't.

Antony_Faisandier
on September 15, 2011, 11:58 GMT

Great to read that from a batsman. It's good to see that Cranbrook's one decent sport product is making it count.

LesGrossman
on September 15, 2011, 11:45 GMT

always good to read the articles from players still in the game or recently out of it. Some quality points about the tracks in oz last summer, quality players perform in conditions. Just going to put it out there, maybe the tassie way is the blueprint for australian teams. Bowling at the top of off stump repeatedly rather than bowling in the corridor like last summer that saw cook, strauss and co play cut shot after cut shot. Batters getting their heads into line with ball to see the movement earlier rather than just throwing their hands at the ball outside off or falling over when the ball is on the stumps to try and hit through square leg. Why hasn't Tim Coyle, the tassie coach, been mentioned regarding the aussie coaching job? Very good record with tassie, players respect and love him and players seem to improve under him and his coaching staff. Thought this argus review was going to reward performance!

HatsforBats
on September 15, 2011, 11:45 GMT

@ anchovy: you make an excellent point..."any batsman getting to fifty deserved a round of applause for a job well done, and that's how it should be." I often tire of commentators saying how batsmen "should've gone on with it" or how they've thrown away a hundred. Making a hundred should be a special effort, not a given once you've scored 20. It implies the bowler is just there to give runs to batsmen rather than a skilled athlete in their own right who can influence the game. It is long past due for the balance between bat & ball to be addressed.

sajwan
on September 15, 2011, 11:17 GMT

Spicy pitches will make cricket's main course more tastier and healthier.

anchovy
on September 15, 2011, 10:43 GMT

Terrific article, Ed. I agree that the best matches are those where the par score is around 280. The most exciting Test matches I can recall (involving Australia) are the following: 1982/83 vs Eng at MCG, 1992/93 vs WI at Adelaide Oval, 2005 vs Eng at Edgbaston, and 2005/06 vs SA at the Wanderers. In these four matches, 11 out of a possible 16 innings were between 250 and 310 runs. These matches were full of excitement from start to finish, unlike some Test matches that have a great finish, but a couple of days where the batsmen are in total control (eg 2006/07 vs Eng at Adelaide Oval). In these 16 completed (or nearly completed) innings, there was only one century scored (Damien Martyn at the Wanderers). As such, any batsman getting to fifty deserved a round of applause for a job well done, and that's how it should be.

on September 16, 2011, 0:59 GMT

batters should be able to graft runs on minefields, bowlers should be able to bowl line, length & variety on feather beds

Number_5
on September 15, 2011, 23:10 GMT

Not a bad article from a New South Welshman. As a cricket tragic and Adelaidian i fear for the future of cricket around the globe due to flat pitches and the impact of T20 on the skills of the game. Now that the members of Adelaide oval have sold their soul and we are to have a "stadium" with a drop in pitch, we too will have lost the advantage of having a traditional Adelaide oval pitch that played true but also gave the bowler who was willing to bend his back some assistance. I truly hope the little master makes his 100th hundred on the last true adelaide oval wicket, what a fitting farewell it would be for him and the Adelaide oval we once knew. Thaks Ed great read.

Akhilesh_Shenoy
on September 15, 2011, 14:56 GMT

Awesome article !!!!!!!! Hats off to u Ed Cowan !!!!! :)
U hav realy hit the nail on the head...cricket will only & i repeat only prosper if its an equal game between bat & ball....& dis is nt just fr test cricket... i believe it shud b fr all forms of the game....only wen its a fair contest between batsmen & bowlers will a game of cricket attract fans & sponsors alike in adequate numbers....lets hope the cricket boards are listenin to dis n start preparin testing tracks in order to sustain the future of this wonderful game !!!! :)

trepuR
on September 15, 2011, 14:35 GMT

I agree with the chorus of people here that believe in interesting cricket. The game should be an even balance, there should be some tests which give a balance, some which favour the bowlers, and yes, some that favour the batsmen. If we were to see lots of shorter, higher wicket games, then we might start to hunger for more run, but test and first class cricket is lightyears away from that being a problem. Pitches need variety, some games where either bat or ball is allowed to dominate, and lots where an interesting, enthralling contest is provided. Well said Ed.

azzaman333
on September 15, 2011, 12:45 GMT

It's very refreshing to see a call by a current batsman for pitches that give better assistance to bowlers. Test cricket is riveting when they have to work for every run, and conversely very boring when they don't.

Antony_Faisandier
on September 15, 2011, 11:58 GMT

Great to read that from a batsman. It's good to see that Cranbrook's one decent sport product is making it count.

LesGrossman
on September 15, 2011, 11:45 GMT

always good to read the articles from players still in the game or recently out of it. Some quality points about the tracks in oz last summer, quality players perform in conditions. Just going to put it out there, maybe the tassie way is the blueprint for australian teams. Bowling at the top of off stump repeatedly rather than bowling in the corridor like last summer that saw cook, strauss and co play cut shot after cut shot. Batters getting their heads into line with ball to see the movement earlier rather than just throwing their hands at the ball outside off or falling over when the ball is on the stumps to try and hit through square leg. Why hasn't Tim Coyle, the tassie coach, been mentioned regarding the aussie coaching job? Very good record with tassie, players respect and love him and players seem to improve under him and his coaching staff. Thought this argus review was going to reward performance!

HatsforBats
on September 15, 2011, 11:45 GMT

@ anchovy: you make an excellent point..."any batsman getting to fifty deserved a round of applause for a job well done, and that's how it should be." I often tire of commentators saying how batsmen "should've gone on with it" or how they've thrown away a hundred. Making a hundred should be a special effort, not a given once you've scored 20. It implies the bowler is just there to give runs to batsmen rather than a skilled athlete in their own right who can influence the game. It is long past due for the balance between bat & ball to be addressed.

sajwan
on September 15, 2011, 11:17 GMT

Spicy pitches will make cricket's main course more tastier and healthier.

anchovy
on September 15, 2011, 10:43 GMT

Terrific article, Ed. I agree that the best matches are those where the par score is around 280. The most exciting Test matches I can recall (involving Australia) are the following: 1982/83 vs Eng at MCG, 1992/93 vs WI at Adelaide Oval, 2005 vs Eng at Edgbaston, and 2005/06 vs SA at the Wanderers. In these four matches, 11 out of a possible 16 innings were between 250 and 310 runs. These matches were full of excitement from start to finish, unlike some Test matches that have a great finish, but a couple of days where the batsmen are in total control (eg 2006/07 vs Eng at Adelaide Oval). In these 16 completed (or nearly completed) innings, there was only one century scored (Damien Martyn at the Wanderers). As such, any batsman getting to fifty deserved a round of applause for a job well done, and that's how it should be.

on September 15, 2011, 10:27 GMT

HatsforBats you should hold fears for adelaide because they are now making it an AFL ground where cricket will be played, tradition is gone and it will now end up like any other modern stadium.

as for the article he is exactly right, the waca for example, the former bowlers paradise is nothing like it used to be. there were some rumours as to why it occurred but I do hope for the upcoming summer it will be an even contest between bat and ball. the curator has a role to play

jonesy2
on September 15, 2011, 10:19 GMT

not just in australia but every cricketing nation needs to produce riveting pitches that test and reward everyone

jonesy2
on September 15, 2011, 10:08 GMT

cowan is absolute quality. he should be a coach or something

thewayitwass
on September 15, 2011, 9:29 GMT

tremendous article, one of the best ive read in a long time, finally someone who appears to respect the balance between bat and ball, and what do you know, its a current cricketer, ICC take notes, we need people like cowan, people who are currently/prevously active in the game we love, not stodgy business men

HatsforBats
on September 15, 2011, 9:06 GMT

It's true, summer just didn't really arrive last year. And it has been sad to watch the deterioration of the six (test) pitches around the country into a beige amalgamation of bland, toothless strips. We used to be able to boast about the variation of our pitches, now they are boring and slightly embarrassing. Drop-in pitches like Melbourne should be abolished, and I hold grave fears for the future of Adelaide.

Chris_P
on September 15, 2011, 8:58 GMT

Great article Ed. I am really enjoying readng your comments and suffice to say, you are one writer who truly has his finger on the pulse. Good luck for this season.

on September 15, 2011, 8:55 GMT

@rukshank: Are you talking about the Indians? Find some article to troll on.

on September 15, 2011, 7:00 GMT

I totally agree. I think batting tracks are killing the goose and the administrators don't even know it or don't care

Ben1989
on September 15, 2011, 6:33 GMT

@rukshank, who's boasting? have you commented on the wrong article?

Valerio_DiBattista
on September 15, 2011, 6:27 GMT

Test cricket is a pathetic excuse for a sport at the moment. The pitches are too flat, ridiculously batsman friendly, there are only a handful of quality bowlers around, and centuries are given away at an alarming rate.
As it is currently played, Test cricket has no right to exist, it might as well just cease immediately and we can all concentrate on T20 or baseball, whichever one it is you prefer. Test cricket is a pathetic sight, it really is.
To all cricket adminstrators, please re-structure your deals with the broadcasters to enable some exciting Test cricket to be played in even conditions between bat and ball. Every fan in the game wants this.
Let's watch the batsman sing for their supper as they should. Alternatively, if Test cricket does not provide a proper struggle and spectacle, for a more even contest may I suggest MLB in the states.

rukshank
on September 15, 2011, 5:52 GMT

I dont like people boasting....too much when they win... as too many boasting will lead to a land slide ... as a result a loose of the winning spirit and also a drop in the world rankings....

on September 15, 2011, 5:23 GMT

i agree with this assesment. In the subcontinent where I'm from the pitches are flat as a tac and the bowlers just suffer from low self esteem :) I feel that article should be read by people in PCB, (im assuming there are more intelligent people than Ejaz Butt sitting there as well) and they should make our domestic pitches alot more lively so that our batsmen become technically correct. The reason for Australias dominance in the last decade was the fact that the domestic structure provided them with every sort of pitch, from spinning tracks to hard and bouncy ones like the WACA. This enabled the batsment to develop all terrain techniques and the bowlers learned how to bowl on different surfaces. Excellent article, we need a more even contest between bat and bowl otherwise cricket will eventually just be reduced to a slogging match, which its fast becoming.

Meety
on September 15, 2011, 4:44 GMT

Another top shelf opinion produced by Mr Cowan. He argued very well an opinion that differs a bit from what I originally would of said, but by the end of it I was pretty much agreeing with him 100%! I felt that Tassie had prepared pitches that were too result orientated, but the Cosgrove example really was a good one. If the Shield's sole priority was to provide Test cricketers, (meaning not for States to win a Final),the best thing for Oz cricket would be to have variety of pitches. Even to the extent that some centre squares could have strips of differing characteristics, (probably not possible, particularly in Perth). I think the SCG can have differing attributes from time to time. Maybe Curators can vary the amount of moisture in the strip from time to time. The point about last summer being one big rain cloud is very accurate. Its quite amazing that there was no major loss of play during the Ashes. I don't think Summer hit until January, I hardly put a toe in the pool before Xmas!

on September 15, 2011, 4:25 GMT

Agree totally with you Ed. Sporting wickets (a much abused term in India which unfortunately means rank turners and not pitches with good bounce and carry) are the need of the hour in international cricket. Every stakeholder of the game including the spectators coming to the ground, broadcasters and television viewers have been crying out for such pitches. When will the administrators listen?

Ben1989
on September 15, 2011, 4:25 GMT

great article (didn't even know Ed wrote for cricinfo) so true, so very true! regardless if curators are producing result wickets, I don't see this is a bad thing & I think they only people who do, are the one's who make more money if the test goes the whole 4 days, as Ed validly state's, result wickets will put our batsman ahead of other nations if they can learn to play on them on a consistent basis, because they will learn to control the late movement easier.
I think the only point they need to look at, is our wickets need to break up a bit more towards the end of the test to give the spinners a fair go, we'll then have a better chance of finding/preparing a good spinner (if Lyon doesn't keep his spot) as they'll be more encouraged to toss the ball up, from what I witnessed last year, most of our spinners just bowl flat & quick, this could obviously be a result of the amount of rain we had during summer also, so let's see how this season goes, can't wait!!

jkaussie
on September 15, 2011, 4:19 GMT

Ed, please keep writing! This is another balanced, well written article that encourages good solid debate. It also questions many of the points made in the Argus Review that everybody seems to be espousing as "THE" blueprint for the future, the golden guaranteed path to success.
I agree with you re the decks - if you have a look at the test matches of the 60's, 70's and 80's, especially in England, 1st innings of around 280-300 were regular, and they made for compelling viewing. If we had similar pitches today coupled with the excellent minimum overs and "time lost to be made up" regulations, now in place, then we would see true battles and I believe the death of the boring draw.
It would also expose the falt track records of a number of the current "greats"!

on September 15, 2011, 3:36 GMT

Very true, 1st class and Test cricket needs challenging wickets. To watch test match on a tougher surface is always the most entertaining for a cricket viewer.

No featured comments at the moment.

on September 15, 2011, 3:36 GMT

Very true, 1st class and Test cricket needs challenging wickets. To watch test match on a tougher surface is always the most entertaining for a cricket viewer.

jkaussie
on September 15, 2011, 4:19 GMT

Ed, please keep writing! This is another balanced, well written article that encourages good solid debate. It also questions many of the points made in the Argus Review that everybody seems to be espousing as "THE" blueprint for the future, the golden guaranteed path to success.
I agree with you re the decks - if you have a look at the test matches of the 60's, 70's and 80's, especially in England, 1st innings of around 280-300 were regular, and they made for compelling viewing. If we had similar pitches today coupled with the excellent minimum overs and "time lost to be made up" regulations, now in place, then we would see true battles and I believe the death of the boring draw.
It would also expose the falt track records of a number of the current "greats"!

Ben1989
on September 15, 2011, 4:25 GMT

great article (didn't even know Ed wrote for cricinfo) so true, so very true! regardless if curators are producing result wickets, I don't see this is a bad thing & I think they only people who do, are the one's who make more money if the test goes the whole 4 days, as Ed validly state's, result wickets will put our batsman ahead of other nations if they can learn to play on them on a consistent basis, because they will learn to control the late movement easier.
I think the only point they need to look at, is our wickets need to break up a bit more towards the end of the test to give the spinners a fair go, we'll then have a better chance of finding/preparing a good spinner (if Lyon doesn't keep his spot) as they'll be more encouraged to toss the ball up, from what I witnessed last year, most of our spinners just bowl flat & quick, this could obviously be a result of the amount of rain we had during summer also, so let's see how this season goes, can't wait!!

on September 15, 2011, 4:25 GMT

Agree totally with you Ed. Sporting wickets (a much abused term in India which unfortunately means rank turners and not pitches with good bounce and carry) are the need of the hour in international cricket. Every stakeholder of the game including the spectators coming to the ground, broadcasters and television viewers have been crying out for such pitches. When will the administrators listen?

Meety
on September 15, 2011, 4:44 GMT

Another top shelf opinion produced by Mr Cowan. He argued very well an opinion that differs a bit from what I originally would of said, but by the end of it I was pretty much agreeing with him 100%! I felt that Tassie had prepared pitches that were too result orientated, but the Cosgrove example really was a good one. If the Shield's sole priority was to provide Test cricketers, (meaning not for States to win a Final),the best thing for Oz cricket would be to have variety of pitches. Even to the extent that some centre squares could have strips of differing characteristics, (probably not possible, particularly in Perth). I think the SCG can have differing attributes from time to time. Maybe Curators can vary the amount of moisture in the strip from time to time. The point about last summer being one big rain cloud is very accurate. Its quite amazing that there was no major loss of play during the Ashes. I don't think Summer hit until January, I hardly put a toe in the pool before Xmas!

on September 15, 2011, 5:23 GMT

i agree with this assesment. In the subcontinent where I'm from the pitches are flat as a tac and the bowlers just suffer from low self esteem :) I feel that article should be read by people in PCB, (im assuming there are more intelligent people than Ejaz Butt sitting there as well) and they should make our domestic pitches alot more lively so that our batsmen become technically correct. The reason for Australias dominance in the last decade was the fact that the domestic structure provided them with every sort of pitch, from spinning tracks to hard and bouncy ones like the WACA. This enabled the batsment to develop all terrain techniques and the bowlers learned how to bowl on different surfaces. Excellent article, we need a more even contest between bat and bowl otherwise cricket will eventually just be reduced to a slogging match, which its fast becoming.

rukshank
on September 15, 2011, 5:52 GMT

I dont like people boasting....too much when they win... as too many boasting will lead to a land slide ... as a result a loose of the winning spirit and also a drop in the world rankings....

Valerio_DiBattista
on September 15, 2011, 6:27 GMT

Test cricket is a pathetic excuse for a sport at the moment. The pitches are too flat, ridiculously batsman friendly, there are only a handful of quality bowlers around, and centuries are given away at an alarming rate.
As it is currently played, Test cricket has no right to exist, it might as well just cease immediately and we can all concentrate on T20 or baseball, whichever one it is you prefer. Test cricket is a pathetic sight, it really is.
To all cricket adminstrators, please re-structure your deals with the broadcasters to enable some exciting Test cricket to be played in even conditions between bat and ball. Every fan in the game wants this.
Let's watch the batsman sing for their supper as they should. Alternatively, if Test cricket does not provide a proper struggle and spectacle, for a more even contest may I suggest MLB in the states.

Ben1989
on September 15, 2011, 6:33 GMT

@rukshank, who's boasting? have you commented on the wrong article?

on September 15, 2011, 7:00 GMT

I totally agree. I think batting tracks are killing the goose and the administrators don't even know it or don't care